Nothing quite warms the belly in the cold winter months like a rich broth soup. The depth of flavors in my Tuscan bean soup (gluten & dairy-free), make this a favorite during the snowy days of winter. You may also want to try my Thai Coconut Curry Soup, one of my most pinned recipes on Pinterest!

As I look out my window, the snow covers our fields like a warm white blanket, but at twenty degrees, it is only a deception. My husband and I recently visited Maui, Hawaii, soaking up the vitamin D, kayaking in the ocean, adventuring the Road to Hana. Ten days of tropical weather truly does something for one’s psyche. You can imagine the shock to our bodies as we departed the plane back to reality; a fifty degree difference takes the breath away! I know I can’t complain, though. Much of the country has been under the polar vortex, plummeting temperatures in the minus digits. All I can say is Bring on Spring! But until then, a nice bowl of Tuscan Bean Soup (gluten & dairy-free) will warm you up.

I use canned beans in my soup, but if you are a die-hard make it from the ground up kind of cook, than by all means, soak your beans for twenty-four hours! A lot of times I don’t think that far ahead. I do, however, buy organic. Living in the wheat fields of the Palouse and watching the crop dusters spray their chemicals over the fields makes me shut my windows and doors as fast as I can. I don’t know if that truly protects me, but I do have a choice when it comes to eating fruits and vegetables, and I prefer choosing organic, non-sprayed foods.

Okay, enough of my “blah-blah-blogging” and on with this yummy Tuscan Bean Soup (gluten & dairy-free) recipe. Begin by sauteing one chicken breast in evoo (extra-virgin-olive-oil) until browned and fully cooked, about 15-20 minutes depending on the breast size. While that is cooking, chop all your vegetables before adding them to your pot for sauteing: onion, celery, carrots, and you might as well chop the kale, even though it will be added later. Also, have our minced garlic ready.

Sauteed Vegetables for Soup
Soften chopped vegetables by sauteing in extra virgin olive oil.

Look at those delicious vibrant colors! So yummy, so good for you! Soups are one of those “good earth” meals. Some day I will blog my hearty vegetable soup. It runs in a close equal to the delicious Thai Coconut Curry Soup I linked earlier. In fact, I may make it this weekend and post it soon, it is that good! But once again, I get side-tracked, so back to the Tuscan Bean Soup recipe.

Chopped Sauteed Chicken
Chop the chicken into small cubes before adding to the soup.

Personally, I like to saute my chicken with a little parsley, squirt of lemon juice, salt and pepper. But you can just saute a plain chicken breast for this recipe if you like. Don’t be afraid to add a little zing to your cooking!

After all main ingredients have been added, add the herbs and spices, then turn your pot down to simmer.

Simmering a pot of Tuscan Chicken Soup

Once your veggies are soft and the onions translucent, add the chicken broth, water, beans, tomatoes, and kale. Turn your heat down to a simmer and add the chopped chicken.

Okay, one more thing…broth matters! You can make your own by boiling the carcass or parts of the chicken & bones. Add water, celery, onion, carrots, and especially herbs such as thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and parsley. Here’s a great recipe for making your own, and it freezes great! Homemade Chicken Broth. If you don’t have any homemade stock on hand, the next best this is organic chicken stock made from wholesome ingredients.

Tuscan Bean Soup (gluten & dairy-free)

Serves 6-8
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time 40 minutes
Total time 1 hour
Dietary Gluten-free
Meal type Soup
Region Italian
There is nothing quite like the rich, complexity of flavors in this Tuscan Bean Soup (gluten & dairy-free). Pour yourself a bowl and allow the good earth flavors to warm your soul.

Ingredients

  • 1 Large chicken breast (sauteed and chopped)
  • 1 Medium onion (chopped)
  • 1 stalk celery (chopped)
  • 1 Large carrot (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 32fl oz organic chicken stock
  • 5 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (divided- 2 for the chicken breast, 3 for the sauteed vegetables)
  • 15oz canned garbanzo beans (preferably organic)
  • 15oz canned cannelloni beans (preferably organic)
  • 15oz canned chopped tomatoes (preferably organic)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup Kale (Chopped)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

Directions

Step 1
Saute chicken breast in two tablespoons of evoo (extra-virgin-olive-oil). Brown on both sides, cooking thoroughly, approximately 15-20 minutes.
Step 2
Chop onion, celery, and carrots for immediate use, chop kale and set aside. Place onion, celery, and carrots into a large soup pot with 3 tbsp of evoo. Stir frequently, cooking on medium high heat until onion is translucent. Add garlic and saute another minute.
Step 3
Add chicken broth and water to the vegetables and stir. Add canned ingredients of garbanzo beans, cannelloni beans and tomatoes.
Step 4
Chop the chicken into small cubes and add to broth. Add all herbs and spices and turn down heat to simmer soup.
Step 5
Simmer for at least 15 minutes on low, then serve warm in bowls. Enjoy!

 

This recipe was also shared on the following blogs: Marvelous Mondays , ChefInTraining, RealFoodForager, TheWearyChef, ThisGalCooks, OurSundayBest, GlutenFreeHomeMaker, IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor

6 comments on “Tuscan Bean Soup (gluten & dairy-free)”

  1. I love finding other gluten free people from the Link Parties. Thanks for sharing this recipe. It looks fabulous!! I completely agree with your motto, way too much great food out there.

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